Pats add Mayo to pigskin recipe
Fred Jeter | 1/18/2024, 6 p.m.
Hampton native Jared Mayo is the New England Patriots’ new head coach, succeeding the iconic Bill Belichick.
Mayo is also the Pats’ first Black coach and the youngest NFL coach, at 37, one month younger than the Rams’ Sean McVay.
Mayo starred as a linebacker and running back at Hampton’s Kecoughtan High and went on to earn All-Southeast Conference linebacking honors at Tennessee.
He played with the Pats eight seasons, leading the NFL in tackles in 2010 with 113. He’s been on Belichick’s staff as a defensive coach since 2018.
The winner of eight Super Bowls, Belichick and the Pats “parted ways” following a 4-13 record this past season. Despite the poor season, Mayo’s defense ranked seventh out of 32 with an average yardage yield of 301.
Mayo joins an NFL fraternity of Black coaches with Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles, Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Mike McDaniel in Miami and Antonio Pierce with Las Vegas.
